Stretch and sweep in next two hours - bricking myself!

[Moorhen]

Nuff said, really - am week overdue today, midwife said she would be round "between nine and noon" (thanks... eeeek...).

Have heard it is painful and also not that bad, that it will only work if going into labour anyway (so pointless?) or has 50 per cent chance of starting me off - do not know what to think and getting a little nervous.

Any wise words from MNetters?

it's really not that bad - take a dose of paracetamol in advance if you like. It's very quick too - only takes about 30 secs. you'll probably get some period like cramping after too and some spotting before you have your show too

good luck. How exciting - your baby might be on its way!

I didnt find the sweep I had with DD painful at all... but that may have been cos I was already 3cm dilated. But it was great, had gone 2 weeks over and went into labour that night. Good luck!

Thank you both, sounds bearable especially the speed (hadn`t realised).

Sazzybee, did it work for you?

I had a sweep with dd - uncomfortable rather than painful. And it worked! It was done at 3.30pm, I had tightenings for the rest of the afternoon/evening but didn't really think much of it cos it didn' hurt.

I then had 45 minutes of labour and she popped out in an awful hurry just after midnight

(2nd child btw)

Hi, just popped over from the mobile epidural thread to say best of luck with the stretch and sweep, hope it isn't too "ouch" for you.

the riper your cervix , and the more anterior, the less uncomfortable it is....basically, if it hurts too much, ask the midwife to stop!

i;ve had two...neither set me off! but both were before my due date, at 38 and 39 weeks..

also, a lot can change at the end of pregnancy, you can be 'unripe' at 41 weeks, and in labour 2 days later...so don;t fret too much !

and lots of sex in the meantime . that ripens the cervix

Anterior? Apparently I am ROA (or baby is, anyway), is that the same thing?

Thanks, another reason to feel a bit better about it.

ROA is a good position for baby to be in to be born.....i thikn it is the best one, or second best !....means the narrowest part of the baby's head is presenting through the widest part of the pelvis, so that is excellent news!!

cervix should come towards the front (anterior) as it ripens, ready for labour to start

OK, just had my sweep. Took two minutes, was - as everyone said - uncomfortable but no worse than that.

Turns out my cervix is already very soft and effaced although needs to flatten a little, baby`s head is in just the right position, and I am already 1-2cms dilated!

MW said I am booked in for induction Thurs night, but frankly she`ll be amazed if I get that far, and even if I do she reckons one load of gel should do it.

BH-ing quite a bit now. Fingers crossed!

And thanks everyone for the support and advice. What did we do before Mumsnet?

great news..keep thinking positive, birthy thoughts...and sure you;ll have baby news soon x

(with dd1 the mw said whilst doing my sweep "think of justin timberlake" !! )

I had a sweep with DS2 and I didn't find it painful. Good luck

How are you doing, moorhen? Still getting braxtons?

Yeah, on and off, and cramping a bit. Not sure that this adds up to anything much yet, though, so still waiting...

Update: Backache, horrifically tired (could barely drag myself out of bed even though I slept OK), have mild form of the runs, stomach tightening on and off, had a couple of bits of show (snot-like stuff, anyway; TMI, sorry!). Despite exhaustion had strange urge to bake cake.

Please someone make my day and tell me this sounds remotely like imminent labour!

You sound like your going like I did Moorhen.

I had a sweep on a saturday, had little bits of a show, very tired, runs and then a big show on the tuesday night and went into labour when I woke up on the wednesday morning.

Have you got one of those exercise balls or a rocking chair?
Rock your pelvis and that will help things move along.

Lulu isn't it LOA that's the best one?

DS was ROA an hour before he was born, was turning round and ended up OP! If they're ROA they often turn round in that direction.

Just tell that baby to stay put and not try any clever moves!!!

Thanks for the tip re pelvis rocking, will give it a try (once the ILs have gone home ).

Hope it's not another three days, though!

when i had it done at 10 days overdue, it wasnt that bad to have it done (about as uncomfortable as a smear test, gyno exam) - but i got a lot of cramping in the hours that followed

It will also get baby into a good position too.
I was also told that when I walked up the stairs, go up sideways as this also helps to rock the pelvis. If you do it in an exaggerated manner you can feel it working

I feel for you I really do. Its horrid being overdue. DS was 10 days late in the end and I was so miserable.

Good luck and keep rocking

Ooh good luck good luck! Sounds like things might be happening for you. Keep us informed won't you!!

good luck moorhen!!